lyt) NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tilling the soil for our particular industry. AVe have found it neces- 

 sary and much less expensive to have land well prepared to receive 

 the seed or plants than to use more labor after the seed was in the 

 ground. We have practiced deep plowing (ten to twelve inches) 

 until the advent of the subsoiler, which we find indispensable for the 

 thorough cultivation of the land. We are speaking now of spring 

 plowing. When it is possible we prefer to plow late in tlie fall, al- 

 lowing the land to lay up loose until spring, except in special cases. 



Experience has taught us the absolute necessity of having land well 

 prepared. A few dollars expended in pulverizing, rubbing, and level- 

 ing the surface of the ground is well invested, giving a kind, mellow 

 surface in which to put seeds or plants, thus giving equal advantages 

 for all seeds to germinate, an even stand of jjlants, greater ease in 

 cultivating (say nothing of the pleasure over rough, cloddy ground), 

 and cheapness of cultivation by having a blanket of mellow soil. 

 Hand or team work can move along without covering plants, as is the 

 case in cloddy or poorly prepared ground. 



BENEFITS. 



Ease of cultivation, more rapid growth of plants, and continued 

 growth weeks after the poorly cultivated plants have checked. The 

 destruction of weeds while small, thus saving expense and securing 

 good growth in dry seasons, retaining moisture through the season and 

 into the following spring. Increasing profits by lessening expense. 

 There can be from one-third to two-fifths expense saved in the culti- 

 vation, if well done and at the proper season. Many instances are in 

 mind of the vast difference between ordinary cultivation and neglect, 

 and as the thoroughness of the cultivation advances, a marked differ- 

 ence is shown on plant or tree. Especially is this seen in our or- 

 chards. 



In our judgment the thing most needed after plant has been made 

 is to cultivate once a week, or more frequently in some cases, and es- 

 pecially after rains that pack the ground and run it together. This 

 will hold good on the farm, in the orchard, or garden. 



I wish to speak here of watering trees and plants recently set. 

 This is generally done by i)utting the water on the surface of the 

 ground, and, as a rule, is of no benefit, as the moisture never reaches 

 the roots, therefore imparts no benefit to the tree. Instances have 



